Review: Lilla Napoli Scandinavia's Best Pizza is Made in a Shack Outside Falkenberg

During our trip to Sweden last summer, we stumbled upon a real gem of a restaurant called Lilla Napoli. They serve the best and most authentic Neapolitan pizza in Scandinavia! We had just visited Gothenburg for a few days and were on our way to Malmö. The night before, chef Andrea Consonni at Trattoria La Strega in Gothenburg had tipped us off about the most accurate replica of an Italian pizza made outside of Italy – in the small town of Falkenberg.

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A Shack in a Parking Lot

I am not sure exactly what I expected to find, but I certainly did not foresee an abandoned-looking wooden shed on a deserted parking lot outside of the city borders. If it wasn’t for Andrea’s recommendation, I don’t think I would have ever found this place – or stopped my car if I happened to pass by. My initial skepticism was put to shame, however, once we entered the small restaurant building. A warm, savory, and well-known aroma filled the air. That of melted cheese, scorched dough, and sweet San Marzano tomatoes. Suddenly, the shabby shack wasn’t of importance anymore, because apparently, we were in the middle of Italy! In the corner, was a 2.3 ton wood-fired stone oven with red mosaic tiles, which appeared to have been installed through a hole in the wall (now covered with a window). Two guys manned the tiny pizzeria kitchen, and a girl smiled and welcomed us inside. Her name was Joy. In the kitchen, were Ville and Besmir – two guys with a remarkable story and an incredible passion for Neapolitan pizza.

This shed is a restaurant?
This shed is a restaurant?

Pizza in 60 Seconds

Joy pointed us to the handwritten selection on the wall: “You choose your pizzas from the blackboard, and place your orders on the iPad.” The menu consisted of eight pizzas – four with tomato sauce, three with white sauce and one dessert pizza. All pizzas were priced at SEK 85, a glass of wine was SEK 65 and a bottle of wine was SEK 310. We ordered pizza no. 2 and 3, and on Joy’s suggestion got one glass to share of Gragnano Otto Uve – a sparkling red wine. Since I was driving again in a while, I only had one sip to taste. While we were still standing there and chatting with Joy, the first pizza arrived! A great example of how quickly a Neapolitan pizza is made when it’s done right. Cooked in a wood-fired stone oven at 500 degrees C for no more than 60 seconds.

The menu. All pizzas SEK 85!
The menu. All pizzas SEK 85!

Pizza Obsession

Ville and Besmir are obsessed with Neapolitan pizza – they hardly think about anything else. I learned that Ville even dropped out of university just weeks before he was supposed to deliver his master thesis. Why would he bother finishing that when he was destined to bake pizza for the rest of his life anyway? Since then, the two guys have tried and tested more than a thousand dough recipes in the pursuit of perfection and traveled countless times to Naples to learn all the secrets of the local pizzaiolos. Today, Lille Napoli is one of the very few restaurants outside of Italy which is certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana – an organization that ensures that genuine Neapolitan pizza is prepared correctly.

Ville Ilola is pondering about how to improve the next pizza even further
Ville Ilola is pondering about how to improve the next pizza even further

Into the Fire

Finding the right oven would turn out the be the biggest challenge for Ville and Besmir. A conventional oven simply wasn’t up for the job. The two pizza students experimented heavily, first with a grill and later on with a remodeled grill made to resemble the Italian stone-ovens. At one point, the guys even volunteered to work at a local pizzeria only to gain access to the industrial pizza ovens for further testing. That’s where they had their first breakthrough, due to the high and consistent temperatures which gave the best result so far. However, development quickly stagnated again. The last missing key was the radiation heat produced by the flames of burning wood. Ville and Besmir eventually realized that the only solution would be a real Italian wood-fired stone oven. Since they could not afford to buy one, they had to build it themselves!

No. 2 with Mozzarella, basil & Pecorino cheese
No. 2 with Mozzarella, basil & Pecorino cheese

Scandinavia’s Best Pizza

The pie of the first pizza was thin, yet soft and elastic – exactly like Neapolitan pizza should be! The edge had small, charred spots and bubbles, without being burnt. Ville and Besmir were already busy baking our second pizza, which arrived shortly after. I noticed they switched roles now and then, probably to ensure that both of them get experience with the dough as well as the oven. They cooperated on each pizza and were equally curious about the result every time. It seems these guys haven’t just learned the authentic way to bake Neapolitan pizza, but they have such a passion for the craft that I’m sure they bake better pizzas than a lot of experienced Italian pizzaiolos. It’s simply the best pizza I’ve had in Scandinavia, and perhaps the best I’ve ever eaten.

Look at that crust!
Look at that crust!

Where did you get the best pizza in your life? Please share in a comment below.

Anders Husa

Anders Husa and Kaitlin Orr are food & travel bloggers and creative content creators. From their base in Copenhagen, they operate the largest and most influential restaurant-focused travel blog in Scandinavia.

7 comments

  • The Best Pizza I had in my life would be in HCMC, Vietnam. Interestingly from a south east asian country. It is called Pizza 4 P’s. They are really popular and they have a wood oven pizza making and if you are lucky, you get to see them make the pizza right in front of you. So far, thats the best pizza i had tasted and at a really reasonable price.

  • For sure The Best pizza I’ve ever eaten! Lilla Napoli!
    Love the humble place with a great heart for quality food and excellent service.

  • Def Lilla Napoli, but a close one is the place next door, Prostens Pizza. You should try it out on your next visit, if you can make a reservation. The place is always fully booked. I also had a great pizza experience in Rome at Bufetti and believe it or not, in Ethiopia. Veggie pizza in the small town of Lalibela. Thanks for a great article!

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